McLaren boss rejects Mosley criticisms

McLaren's Ron Dennis has cast doubt on Max Mosley's motives for quitting as head of Formula One's governing body while rejecting barbs about dithering team bosses.

Mr Dennis also defended Indianapolis hospital doctors criticised for failing to detect Ralf Schumacher's spinal fractures after his big crash at the US circuit last month.

"There were many things that were said by Max that were misleading and not accurate," Mr Dennis told reporters at the French Grand Prix.

"He portrays the teams as not being responsive in so many areas which is just not accurate.

"It is quite true that some team principals rejected qualifying and changed their positions during the course of the F1 commission (meeting) but this was preceded by a very clear statement from Max that he did not want this qualifying to be introduced."

Mosley told a news conference on Friday that he was stepping down as FIA president because he had simply had enough of fruitless meetings and criticised team bosses for agreeing to something and then going away and changing their minds.

He also branded one boss, in a comment widely interpreted as referring to old foe Dennis, as "not perhaps the sharpest knife in the box".

Formula One had been due to introduce a new qualifying system at the July 11 British Grand Prix following agreement by all the teams but the change was rejected last week when the unanimity dissolved.

Mr Dennis said Mr Mosley's comments had been "not too presidential and certainly not too factual".

"I don't think Max's reasons for leaving the FIA are consistent with what he says and I think you should look to the Formula One world council meeting and try and explore fully what took place in there," Mr Dennis said.

Mr Mosley was defeated in a vote about karting at Wednesday's world motor sport council meeting while other proposals to divide the role of the FIA president were shelved when opposition became apparent.

Mr Dennis said Mr Mosley, one of the most powerful men in motorsport, was also wrong in his comments about the Indianapolis hospital's treatment of Ralf.